Concrete building frame construction

ABSTRACT

A building construction system which utilizes precast, concrete structural members and mechanical connectors. In the system precast columns are attached to a footer or other foundation with one type of connection while beams are attached to columns with a second type of mechanical connection. Preferably, the beam-column connection is also grouted after the mechanical interconnection is made.

United States Patent 1191 Scott CONCRETE BUILDING FRAME CONSTRUCTION Norman L. Scott, Glenview, ill.

The Flexicore Dayton, Ohio Filed: Jul 30, 1971 Appl. No.i 167,677

Inventor:

Assignee: Company, Inc.,

US. Cl. ..52/105, 52/122, 52/250,

52/283, 52/296, 52/583 Int. Cl ..E04g 1/41 Field of Search ..52/105, 295, 259,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1960 Babcock ..52/122 1 51 May 22, 1973 971,665 10 1910 Conzelman ..52/283 3,421,270 1 1969 Chaney ..52 105 x 3,513,610 5 1970 Devonport ..52/283 1,538,218 5 1925 Seelye ..52/283 x 3,600,863 .8/1971 Nachtsheim.... .....52 5s3 x 1,380,324 5 1921 Piggins ..52/283 2,095,422 10 1937 Stencel.... .....52/5s3 x 2,724,261 11/1955 Rensar ..52 295 Primary Examiner-Price C. Faw, Jr. Attorney- Marechal, Biebel, French & Bugg [5 7] ABSTRACT A building construction system which utilizes precast, concrete structural members and mechanical connectors. ln the system precast columns are attached to a footer or other foundation with one type of connection while beams are attached to columns with a second type of mechanical connection. Preferably, the beam-column connection is also grouted after the mechanical interconnection is made.

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEU WY 2 2 I975 SHEET 1 BF 2 FIG-l IN VEIV TOR NORMAN L. SCOTT CONCRETE BUILDING FRAME CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Building construction systems which utilize precast, concrete structural components have found widespread use in the industry. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,205,465; 1,957,026; 3,074,209; 3,199,259; 3,261,135 are directed to particular connections between precast concrete columns or walls and precast concrete beams or floor slabs. Additionally, the Dec. 1968 issue of PCI Journal, pages 48-66, discusses a beam-column connection known as the Cazaly hanger," while the June 1968 issue of the same Journal contains a paper at pages 12-27 thereof by Robert Loov on a different type of beam-column connection.

Other patents have been directed to complete building construction systems, including foundations, floor slabs, columns, beams, etc. and the connections between these various components. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,924,801; 3,429,092; and 3,473,273. However, despite the obvious intensity of effort which has been devoted in the past to precast structural systems and connectors for the components of such systems, the continued efforts in this area also indicate a continuing need for improvements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a building construction system including precast, concrete columns and beams and connections for quickly and securely interconnecting the columns and beams and mounting the columns on a foundation, footer or the like.

Specifically, the building construction system in accordance with the present invention includes a column and beam each having connector parts which permit rapid assembly and yet provide a secure beam-column connection. The system employs broad, flat beams which are shallow in depth. This allows doors to be placed in corridor partitions in a completed building without interfering with the overall structural system. Additionally, the connections between the columns and beams are relatively broad as compared with prior art beam-column connections and a better distribution of loads is thereby obtained.

Those columns which are to be attached to a footing or foundation are provided with a frame constructed of angle iron and embedded in the lowermost end of the columns. Weldable, deformed, reinforcing members are welded to the frame and project upwardly therefrom into the column to anchor the frame at the bottom of the column.

The foundation is provided with a series of upwardly projecting anchor bolts at each column position and a base plate having correspondingly positioned holes formed through it is slipped over the upwardly projecting bolts. Nuts are threaded on the bolts between the base plate and the foundation to level the plate, after which additional nuts are threaded down on the studs to fix the plate in the levelled position.

By anchoring a frame-like angle iron on the base of the column, rather than a flat plate for example, the column may be aligned and fixed to the base plate by welding and the like without interfering with the anchoring of prestressing cables during the casting of prestressed columns. The use of framelike members at the bases of the columns, therefore, permits the use of preand stressed columns at significant savingsin construction costs.

Aligning indicia are inscribed on both the upstanding legs of the angle iron frame on the columns and on the upper surface of the base plate to allow the columns to be correctly positioned with respect to the base plate and, hence, the foundation. After the columns are aligned in this manner the angle iron frame is welded to the base plate to provide a firm connection between the foundation and the lower columns.

Preferably, the beam-column connection is also grouted, in addition to the mechanical connection, to give the overall appearance of a monolithic structure and to protect the connector components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings, a building construction system incorporating the principles of the present invention includes a base member or foundation 10, columns 12, and horizontally extending beams 16. Each column 12, as best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings, is provided with a frame shaped member 18 embedded in'its lower end. The frame 18 is formed of angle iron and includes an upstanding leg 20, more or less flush with the side faces of the column 12, and a lower, horizontally extending leg 22 extending flush with the bottom end of the column 12. Deformed reinforcing members 24 are also affixed to the horizontally extending leg 22, by welding or the like, and project inwardly into the column to secure the frame 18 thereto.

The footing or foundation 10 has a plurality of threaded anchor bolts 28 embedded therein and projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the base 10. Nuts 30 are threaded part way down on the outwardly projecting portions of the bolts 28 and serve to permit a plate 32 to be leveled with respect to the base 10 when the anchor bolts 28 are received in the correspondingly positioned openings 34 formed through the base plate 32. After the base plate 32 has been leveled by means of the nuts 30 additional nuts 36 may be secured to fix the base plate in this position.

The angle frame member 18 and the base plate 32 are each provided with aligning indicia 38 and 40, respectively, and the position of the column 12 with respect to the base plate 32 is determined by aligning the indicia in the manner shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Thereafter, the angle member 18 is welded to the base plate to provide firm column-base connection.

Precast beams and means for securing the beams to the precast columns are also provided in accordance with the present invention. Thus, as best seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the beams 16 are provided with openings 50 extending through the end surfaces from the top to the bottom of the beam. Embedded in the ends of the beam are a pair of spaced parallel plate members 52 whose upper surfaces are flush with the upper surface of the beam 16 and whose opposed inner surfaces are flush with the opposed surfaces of the opening 50.

Attached to the lower surfaces of the plate members 52 by welding or the like and extending across the opening 50 in the beam 16 is a hanger plate 54 having a centrally disposed aperture 56 formed therethrough. Reinforcing members 58 and 60 are attached to the sides and rear surfaces of the plate members 52 and extend into the beam to anchor the hanger structure with respect to the beam.

The column 12 carries a haunch plate 62 embedded in one face of the column with the outer surface of the plate 62 substantially flush with the face of the column in which it is embedded. To further fix the plate 62 within the column a series of anchors 64, such as Nelson type anchor studs, are attached to the rear surface of the plate 62 by welding or the like and extend into the column.

Attached to the haunch plate 62 is a haunch 66 of substantially inverted U-shape, including a horizontally extending bight portion 68 and vertically extending leg portions 70 which are attached to the plate 62 and the bight portion 68 by welding. The haunch 66 is received in a lower portion 51 of the opening 50 with the hanger plate 54 overlying the plate 68.

An opening 72 is formed in the plate 68 in registration with the opening 56 in the hanger plate 54 and a bolt 74, which may be fixed in the plate 68, passes through openings 72 and 56 and receives a washer 76 and a nut 78. This provides a secure connection between the beam and the column, yet permits some movement due to expansion and contraction between the joint components.

It will also be noted, particularly from FIG. 1, that the beam 16 is of broad flat configuration having appreciably greater width than depth and that the beam-column connection is likewise broad to provide an even distribution of the loads across the beam. Additionally, it will be seen that the connection between the beam and column may be grouted to both protect the elements of the joint and to provide a smooth monolithic appearance to the structure.

From the above it will be apparent that thepresent invention provides a construction system including precast structural components and means for interconnecting these components to provide a complete building system.

While the methods and articles herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise methods and articles, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Building construction comprising:

a. a foundation,

b. a plurality of anchor bolts embedded in and projecting substantially vertically upwardly from said foundation,

c. a base plate,

d. means defining a plurality of openings through said base plate around the periphery thereof receiving said anchor bolts, I i

e. a plurality of levelling nuts threadably received on said anchor bolts beneath said base plate in supporting relationship thereto,

a plurality of additional nuts threadably received on said anchor bolts above said base plate, engaging an upper surface thereof and fixing said base plate in a levelled position,

g. a vertically extending concrete column having end and side faces,

. an open frame member embedded in said end face of said column about the periphery thereof at said side faces and providing free access to the central portion of said end face,

. said open frame comprising upstanding leg portions embedded in said side faces adjacent said end face and horizontally extending leg portions projecting inwardly from said upwardly extending leg portions at the periphery of said end face,

j. a plurality of reenforcing members fixed to said horizontally extending leg portions, projecting upwardly therefrom and embedded in said column,

. and

k. means fixing said horizontally extending leg portions to said upper surface of said levelled base plate inwardly of said peripherally arranged openmgs.

2. The building construction of claim I wherein:

a. said frame member is fixed to said base plate by welding. I

3. The building construction of claim 1 further comprising:

' a. aligning indicia on said base plate and said frame member for correctly positioning said column with respect to said foundation.

4. The building construction of claim 1 further comprising:

a. a haunch plate mounted in one of said side faces of said column,

b. a haunch mounted on and projecting from said haunch plate,

c. means projecting upwardly from said haunch,

d. a beam having an opening in one end thereof,

e. a hanger plate extending across said opening, and

f. means defining an aperture through said hanger plate receiving said upwardly projecting means.

5. Building construction comprising:

a. a column,

b. a haunch plate embedded in a face of said column,

c. a plurality of studs extending from said haunch plate into said column,

d. a substantially inverted U-shaped haunch fixed to said haunch plate and projecting outwardly of said column face,

e. means defining an opening through a central portion of said haunch,

f. a beam of greater width than depth having an opening extending substantially vertically through one end thereof,

g. a hanger plate fixed in said one end of said beam and extending across said opening,

h. said haunch being received in said beam opening .with said hanger plate resting on said central portion of said haunch,

i. means defining an aperture through said hanger plate substantially aligned with said opening in said haunch,

j. bolt means extending through said opening in said haunch and said aperture in said hanger plate and fixing said beam to said column,

k. a pair of plate members embedded in said one end of said beam outwardly of said opening therethrough, and

1. means fixing said hanger plate to said pair of plate members.

6. The building construction of claim 5 wherein:

a. an end face of said beam at said one end thereof is positioned in closely spaced relationship to said face of said column at said juncture thereof.

7. The building construction of claim 5 wherein:

a. said hanger plate is attached to lower portions of said pair of plate members.

8. The building construction of claim 7 further comprising:

a. reinforcing rods attached to said pair of plate members and extending into said beam.

9. Building construction comprising:

a. a foundation,

b. a plurality of anchor bolts cast in situ in said foundation and projecting upwardly above said foundation,

0. a base plate having portions defining openings therethrough receiving said anchor bolts,

d. means for fixing said base plate on said anchor bolts,

e. a prestressed column positioned on said base plate,

f. an angle member having upstanding and a horizontal leg cast in said column with said upstanding leg extending contiguously with a face of said column and said horizontal leg extending contiguously with the base of said column,

g. means defining aligning indicia on said base plate and on said upstanding leg of said angle member,

h. means fixing said angle member to said base plate with said base plate and upstanding leg aligning indicia in registration with each other,

i. a haunch plate mounted in a face of said column, j. a haunch of substantially inverted U-shape attached to and projecting from said haunch plate,

k. a bolt projecting upwardly from said haunch,

l. a beam having portions defining an opening in an end thereof extending from a bottom to a top face of said beam,

m. a hanger plate positioned within and extending across said beam opening and having means defining an aperture therethrough,

In. said haunch being received in said beam opening with said haunch bolt received in said hanger plate aperture, and

0. means fixing said hanger on said haunch.

10. Building construction comprising:

a. a concrete column having end and side faces,

b. means anchoring said column at the end face thereof to a foundation,

c. a haunch plate embedded in said column with an outer surface of said haunch plate substantially flush with one of said side faces of said column,

d. anchoring studs attached to a surface of said haunch plate opposite said outer surface thereof and extending into said column,

e. a substantially U-shaped haunch having a horizontally extending portion and a pair of vertically extending portions, I

f. means fixing said haunch to said outer surface of said haunch plate,

g. a beam having means defining an opening in an end thereof,

h. said opening extending vertically through said beam from the top to the bottom thereof,

i. a horizontally extending hanger plate fixed in said end of said beam and extending across said opening therethrough,

j. said hanger plate resting on said horizontally extending portion of said haunch,

k. means defining an opening through said hanger plate, and

1. means projecting upwardly from said horizontally extending portion of said haunch and received in said opening in said hanger plate.

11. The building construction of claim 10 wherein:

p a. said beam is of greater width than depth. 

1. Building construction comprising: a. a foundation, b. a plurality of anchor bolts embedded in and projecting substantially vertically upwardly from said foundation, c. a base plate, d. means defining a plurality of openings through said base plate around the periphery thereof receiving said anchor bolts, e. a plurality of levelling nuts threadably received on said anchor bolts beneath said base plate in supporting relationship thereto, f. a plurality of additional nuts threadably received on said anchor bolts above said base plate, engaging an upper surface thereof and fixing said base plate in a levelled position, g. a vertically extending concrete column having end and side faces, h. an open frame member embedded in said end face of said column about the periphery thereof at said side faces and providing free access to the central portion of said end face, i. said open frame comprising upstanding leg portions embedded in said side faces adjacent said end face and horizontally extending leg portions projecting inwardly from said upwardly extending leg portions at the periphery of said end face, j. a plurality of reenforcing members fixed to said horizontally extending leg portions, projecting upwardly therefrom and embedded in said column, and k. means fixing said horizontally extending leg portions to said upper surface of said levelled base plate inwardly of said peripherally arranged openings.
 2. The building construction of claim 1 wherein: a. said frame member is fixed to said base plate by welding.
 3. The building construction of claim 1 further comprising: a. aligning indicia on said base plate and said frame member for correctly positioning said column with respect to said foundation.
 4. The building construction of claim 1 further comprising: a. a haunch plate mounted in one of said side faces of said column, b. a haunch mounted on and projecting from said haunch plate, c. means projecting upwardly from said haunch, d. a beam having an opening in one end thereof, e. a hanger plate extending across said opening, and f. means defining an aperture through said hanger plate receiving said upwardly projecting means.
 5. Building construction comprising: a. a column, b. a haunch plate embedded in a face of said column, c. a plurality of studs extending from said haunch plate into said column, d. a substantially inverted U-shaped haunch fixed to said haunch plate and projecting outwardly of said column face, e. means defining an opening through a central portion of said haunch, f. a beam of greater width than depth having an opening extending substantially vertically through one end thereof, g. a hanger plate fixed in said one end of said beam and extending across said opening, h. said haunch being received in said beam opening with said hanger plate resting on said central portion of said haunch, i. means defining an aperture through said hanger plate substantially aligned with said opening in said haunch, j. bolt means extending through said opening in said haunch and said aperture in said hanger plate and fixing said beam to said column, k. a pair of plate members embedded in said one end of said beam outwardly of said opening therethrough, and l. means fixing said hanger plate to said pair of plate members.
 6. The building construction of claim 5 wherein: a. an end face of said beam at said one end thereof is positioned in closely spaced relationship to said face of said column at said juncture thereof.
 7. The building construction of claim 5 wherein: a. said hanger plate is attached to lower portions of said pair of plate members.
 8. The building construction of claim 7 further comprising: a. reinforcing rods attached to said pair of plate members and extending into said beam.
 9. Building construction comprising: a. a foundation, b. a plurality of anchor bolts cast in situ in said foundation and projecting upwardly above said foundation, c. a base plate having portions defining openings therethrough receiving said anchor bolts, d. means for fixing said base plate on said anchor bolts, e. a prestressed column positioned on said base plate, f. an angle member having upstanding and a horizontal leg cast in said column with said upstanding leg extending contiguously with a face of said column and said horizontal leg extending contiguously with the base of said column, g. means defining aligning indicia on said base plate and on said upstanding leg of said angle member, h. means fixing said angle member to said base plate with said base plate and upstanding leg aligning indicia in registration with each other, i. a haunch plate mounted in a face of said column, j. a haunch of substantially inverted U-shape attached to and projecting from said haunch plate, k. a bolt projecting upwardly from said haunch, l. a beam having portions defining an opening in an end thereof extending from a bottom to a top face of said beam, m. a hanger plate positioned within and extending across said beam opening and having means defining an aperture therethrough, n. said haunch being received in said beam opening with said haunch bolt received in said hanger plate aperture, and o. means fixing said hanger on said haunch.
 10. Building construction comprising: a. a concrete column having end and side faces, b. means anchoring said column at the end face thereof to a foundation, c. a haunch plate embedDed in said column with an outer surface of said haunch plate substantially flush with one of said side faces of said column, d. anchoring studs attached to a surface of said haunch plate opposite said outer surface thereof and extending into said column, e. a substantially U-shaped haunch having a horizontally extending portion and a pair of vertically extending portions, f. means fixing said haunch to said outer surface of said haunch plate, g. a beam having means defining an opening in an end thereof, h. said opening extending vertically through said beam from the top to the bottom thereof, i. a horizontally extending hanger plate fixed in said end of said beam and extending across said opening therethrough, j. said hanger plate resting on said horizontally extending portion of said haunch, k. means defining an opening through said hanger plate, and l. means projecting upwardly from said horizontally extending portion of said haunch and received in said opening in said hanger plate.
 11. The building construction of claim 10 wherein: a. said beam is of greater width than depth. 